Relative

Cinquième jour - Sunday 21st June, Auvillar to Miradoux - 18.2 klms (running total approx 115.4)

I don't really want to turn the blog into a daily weather report, but sometimes one has to acknowledge the elephant, in this case, outside the room.

Today was a relatively easy day. But in the middle of a severe heatwave, relatively takes on a different meaning. We arrived into Miradoux a little before 2pm. Elapsed time about 6 hours; walking time about 4 hours 30 mins. Here's a weather snapshot a few minutes after arrival.

So it is a little bit of a challenge, and thankfully there's plenty of water available (I'm not measuring, but my guess is that I'm drinking 3-4 litres/day).

We left Auvillar a little before 8 this morning even though it was to be a relatively easy day. For most of the day we wandered through agricultural land (wheat, sunflowers, corn, lucern). Judging by some of very large agricultural sheds full of equipment, I get the impression that this is relatively productive and wealthy country.

One of the many paths through the forest which we've experienced each day

In just a few weeks these fields will be seas of yellow

On of the many large machinery sheds, many of which have substantial solar systems on the roof

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/7ecab3_ef7761c03582451a9608ec50586dfc5d/file

Janet's brain was fried by the surplus of thermo-nuclear electro-magnetic radiation

Flamarens, with Chateau in the far distance

Would you believe, not far now (well, actually, a bit over half-way) ...

We wandered by the Chateau de Flamarens (above) and its adjoining, ruined Church of Saint-Saturnin (below).

Another view of the Chateau de Flamarens

Which brings us to tonight's resting place, Miradoux (pictured on the hill in the photo below). We are staying in an 18th century house which has been ever so tastefully converted into a gite. Catherine and her daughter Kelly are delightful hosts.

Truly, not long now, but those last couple of klms are always the hardest

Miradoux has a fascinating history. Its story goes back over 800 years (and it's the oldest bastide in the Gers department, having been declaredin 1253). The site of the present church marks the location of an ancient castle/fortress. The town has endured the Hundred Years War, the Wars of Religion, siege, the plague, fire and more recently, phylloxera.

The church is built on a promontory at an altitude of 238 meters. It was constructed on the site of the fortified castle, the property of the last lord of Miradoux, Raymond Aylin, who donated it to the inhabitants, along with its materials. Only the keep remains. He was buried in the Chapel of the Seven Sorrows, on the right side of the nave, in 1621. Here's the keep as it is today (currently the church's belltower).

The ancient keep at the L'église Saint-Orens-et-Saint-Louis de Miradoux

Lastly, a couple of views of the gite

Inside the common room

Thoroughly modern kitchen

Its plain exterior belies its exquisite interior

Another shorty tomorrow, only ~15 klms. And then a rest day 😴.